Cobb Master Gardeners receive international award

No tilling and mycorrhizal fungi have been proven to double the production of sweet potatoes by Cobb County Master Gardeners Linda Hlozansky and Cris Force who have won first place for their research in an international competition.

This month Force and Hlozansky - with UGA Cobb Extension Master Gardener Coordinator Renae Lemon - traveled to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to receive the award for their organization, Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County.

Search for Excellence is the recognition program of the Extension Master Gardener volunteer work throughout the United States, Canada and South Korea, according to a Cobb County statement.

Hlozansky and Force conducted their No-Till Mycorrhizal Sweet Potato Garden Experiment during 2017 and 2018, using mycorrhizal fungi instead of chemical fertilizer, pesticides and fungicides.

They also tested the effectiveness of a cover crop.

Results were:

• In one growing season during the summer of 2017, the side of the garden which was no-till and inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi produced double the weight in sweet potatoes with 96 pounds compared to 45 pounds on the tilled side.
• In the second growing season during the summer of 2018, both sides of the garden were left untilled and both sides were treated with mycorrhizal fungi. Also, both sides were planted with a cover crop before the second growing season. Harvest results were 129 pounds of sweet potatoes from the side treated for one season but 191 pounds from the side treated for two years. The cover crop was responsible for an additional 33 pounds of sweet potatoes in the harvest of 2018.